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Mukhriz Expresses Concern About Spread Of Extremism

ALOR SETAR – The Kedah Menteri Besar today expressed his concern on the spread of extremist thinking among a small number of residents in the state, causing them to be influenced to go to Syria to perform acts in the name of jihad.

Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir revealed he had received information from teachers in a traditional religious studies school about local residents who had gone there, saying they wanted to go to Syria for jihad.

“I received information from a religious school about the arrival of these local residents who did not identify themselves, asking the teachers what was the rule for going to jihad in Syria.

“The teacher brought out holy books and the Quran, and showed them verses which do not allow them (to go to Syria). It shows how a small number are really keen to go to Syria,” Mukhriz said at a press conference in Wisma Darulaman today.

He said although these people had cancelled their plans to go to Syria after receiving explanation from the religious teacher, at the same time, he did not discount the possibility that there were many who had gone there without first getting any advice.

“Luckily, they asked about the rules (from Islam’s point of view) before going to Syria, what if they had gone straight (to Syria without asking for advice),” he said.

He said information received from the religious school of the intention of a small number of locals who wanted to fight in Syria worried him.

The Kedah Menteri Besar also said there was a female student in a private institute of higher learning who tried to influence her father to allow her to marry a Syrian through the social media Twitter.

He said the state government depended on the police to curtail the spread of militant and extremist thinking among the people of the state.

This was because the state government did not have the power, except for what was already provided under the law, he said.

Earlier, Mukhriz together with members of the exco, celebrated the success of students who obtained excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia examinations. – BERNAMA